Goals Setting 101

Do you want to achieve your goals? Having a clearpossibilities you could achieve in your life. Once you
picture of what your goals are is a good start. Most ofhave started this process, you will find yourself thinking
the persons who are successful have clearly definedof more and more possibilities. Notice the feelings you
goals and visit them often. Sounds simple. For many,have when you are thinking about these things. Notice
making a set of defined goals is a difficult matter.and remember these feelings as they are a key to
What I will share with you, in this series of articles, is anyour attaining your goals!
easy way to put your goals into existence. Let's get toOnce you are comfortable with this exercise, it is time
it!to take the next step: defining your goals. On a fresh
The first step to defining your goals is to know what itsheet of paper, write the following phrase: "This would
is you want to achieve. Here are a couple ofbe my life if I could be, do and have anything I wished".
exercises you can do to find out what it is you reallyUsing the pages from the previous exercise, write out
want in your life: Look in the mirror and ask the personyour desired life. Phrase this as though this life is
looking back at you. "What do I want in my life" Thisalready yours. Ex: I am grateful I have a partner whom
may be uncomfortable at first. That is alright. KeepI love very much and who is supportive...I live in a 3
practicing and you will soon be able to have thatbedroom 2 bathroom home in the mountains..and so
conversation with the person who is always thereforth. Cover all of the areas in the previous exercise.
looking back at you. 2) Take a large piece of paperThis would be your ideal life!
and write down your ideal life. What you would like toNow, review what you have written there. What are
become. Who your friends are, where do you live,the top 8 to10 things you have written? Which of
what carreer do you have. Everything you can imaginethose make you feel the best? Which of these are
you would like you life to be, write it down. You mayyou most passionate about? These ideas contain your
also draw or paste pictures of your ideal life on this5-year goals. The 5-year goals may look as though
sheet. What does your home look like? Where is itthey are unattainable from where you are at this point.
located? Where would you vacation? You get theThat is good! Those goals should make you feel
idea. Do this. Thinking about it in your mind is great,uncomfortable, make your palms sweat, and make
however, putting it down on this paper so it is a visualyou excited at the prospect of them coming true.
and tactile representation is very important. I will coverGreat! Next, keeping in line with the 5-year goals, put
this aspect, in depth, in future articles.the heading "My 1 year Goals" on another sheet of
Great! Now, it is important to note, at this point, you arepaper. Choose 6 or 8 goals you would like to achieve
not tied to any one goal you have made. Your goalsand write them down. Remember to keep these goals
will change as often as you would like them to. This isin line with your 5-year plan. They are another step to
an ever-changing process. Also, be aware that yougetting where you want to be. Also, very important,
are not required to put forth extreme effort inwrite them as if you have already achieved them. Ex:
achieveing these goals. You do not have to strive or"I am grateful I have quit my job and started my own
use undo effort. If you do find excessive resistance,business that is now providing me the time freedom
you may wish to re-evaluate the particular goal andand income I deserve" Once that is accomplished, do
decide if it is truly something you wish to achieve.the same for your 6-month, 1-month, 1-week and
Once you have your goals firmly set, the process oftoday's goals. Always keeping in line with the 5-year
reaching them will flow easily. Notice how the trueplan. Your goals must be specific and have a
nature of life is the simplistic flow, finding the path ofcompletion date. Ex: 'I am grateful I made $20,000 in
least resistance. Defining your goals allows you tomy business by (specific date)" instead of "I will make
have a clear purpose in mind and sets you in thea bunch of friends"
direction to gain the vision you have set for yourself.A final note. When you are determining your goals,
Still with me? Super! Next, take another piece of papermake them real and meaningful to you. Goals that you
and write down the following headings: Personalactually want and not what you think you want (see
Growth Carreer Relationships Self-expression Incomeexercise 1). Remember that you may wish to modify
Possessions Fun The Earth Now, under each heading,or delete some goals as you progress. Also, you may
describe what it is you would like to have, change ornot attain some goals. That is OK. Review the goals
achieve in that column. What would you like to do toyou did not meet and determine whether this is a goal
grow? Learn another language? Learn to paint? Whatyou wish to continue with or something that no-longer
kind of work would you most like to do? What are thefits in your scheme of things. Review all of your goals
attributes of the persons you have relationships with,on a regular basis and modify them as you see fit.
who are your friends? How would you like to thinkContinue to work on your individual goals until the 12th
about yourself? What income do you wish to have?hour. They sometimes have a way of manifesting at
Where would you like to live, what kind of car wouldthe last possible minute! Again, this may take some
you drive? What would you do for fun? Travel? Learnpractice. When you accomplish a goal, celebrate! Pat
to fly a plane? Go Scuba diving? And, finally, Whatyourself on the back! Acknowledge your success and
would you do to make a difference on this planet? Forbe grateful for the opportunity! Once you have
the people who live here? This is not a difficultmastered this process you will be ready to read
exercise, simply write down anything that comes toadditional articles I have produced to further your
mind. There are no wrong answers. Spend some timeexperience. Thank You for your attention, let me know
with this, reflect and use your imagination. This is anof your progress.
exercise to stimulate your mind to create all of the